Parenting

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Damned if You Do, Doomed if You Don't (Breastfeed, That is)

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By Madeline Holler
Strollerderby/Babble

Here's the problem with any debate about breastfeeding: you're damned if you do, a bad mom if you don't. Damned if you do because you're either (1) being gross or (2) being a show-off. A bad mom if you don't because breast is best and you're not giving your child the best (students of logic will point out this doesn't entail that you are giving your newborn child the worst. The worst would be water, or, you know, battery acid.)

The so-called breast vs. bottle debate is no debate at all. Rather, it's two sides (or nine -- there are tons of baby feeding combos out there that need defending) talking past each other about different things. Formula-feeders want others to know they're good parents; breast-feeders want others to know it's good (and free!) food. From a boob. So what we get are arguments, like Cole's, that breastfeeding has been oversold. Or ones like Brett's that call moms who don't breastfeed too "lazy" to give the best to their child.

Read the rest and tell us what you think ...
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